Diane Abbott
British Labour Party MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington (born 1953)
Greek philosopher and mathematician (c. 570 - c. 495 BC)
Pythagoras of Samos was an ancient Greek philosopher and the founder of Pythagoreanism. He made numerous contributions to mathematics, science, and philosophy, though the extent of his personal involvement in some of these discoveries is debated. Pythagoras’s teachings, including the transmigration of souls and the idea of musica universalis, had a significant impact on later philosophers and scientists.
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Pythagoras of Samoswas an ancient Ionian Greek philosopher, polymath and the eponymous founder of Pythagoreanism. His political and religious teachings were well known in Magna Graecia and influenced the philosophies of Plato, Aristotle, and, through them, the West in general. Knowledge of his life is clouded by legend; modern scholars disagree regarding Pythagoras’s education and influences, but they do agree that, around 530 BC, he travelled to Croton in southern Italy, where he founded a school in which initiates were sworn to secrecy and lived a communal, ascetic lifestyle.
In antiquity, Pythagoras was credited with many mathematical and scientific discoveries, including the Pythagorean theorem, Pythagorean tuning, the five regular solids, the Theory of Proportions, the sphericity of the Earth, and the identity of the morning and evening stars as the planet Venus. It was said that he was the first man to call himself a philosopherand that he was the first to divide the globe into five climatic zones. Classical historians debate whether Pythagoras made these discoveries, and many of the accomplishments credited to him likely originated earlier or were made by his colleagues or successors. Some accounts mention that the philosophy associated with Pythagoras was related to mathematics and that numbers were important, but it is debated to what extent, if at all, he actually contributed to mathematics or natural philosophy.
The teaching most securely identified with Pythagoras is the “transmigration of souls” or metempsychosis, which holds that every soul is immortal and, upon death, enters into a new body. He may have also devised the doctrine of musica universalis, which holds that the planets move according to mathematical equations and thus resonate to produce an inaudible symphony of music. Scholars debate whether Pythagoras developed the numerological and musical teachings attributed to him, or if those teachings were developed by his later followers, particularly Philolaus of Croton. Following Croton’s decisive victory over Sybaris in around 510 BC, Pythagoras’s followers came into conflict with supporters of democracy, and Pythagorean meeting houses were burned. Pythagoras may have been killed during this persecution, or he may have escaped to Metapontum and died there.
Pythagoras influenced Plato, whose dialogues, especially his Timaeus, exhibit Pythagorean teachings. Pythagorean ideas on mathematical perfection also impacted ancient Greek art. His teachings underwent a major revival in the first century BC among Middle Platonists, coinciding with the rise of Neopythagoreanism. Pythagoras continued to be regarded as a great philosopher throughout the Middle Ages and his philosophy had a major impact on scientists such as Nicolaus Copernicus, Johannes Kepler, and Isaac Newton. Pythagorean symbolism was also used throughout early modern European esotericism, and his teachings as portrayed in Ovid’s Metamorphoses would later influence the modern vegetarian movement.
Pythagoras of Samos was an ancient Ionian Greek philosopher, polymath, and the eponymous founder of Pythagoreanism. He lived around 570-495 BC and his teachings were well known in Magna Graecia, influencing the philosophies of Plato, Aristotle, and the West in general.
Pythagoras was credited with many mathematical and scientific discoveries, including the Pythagorean theorem, Pythagorean tuning, the five regular solids, the Theory of Proportions, the sphericity of the Earth, and the identity of the morning and evening stars as the planet Venus.
The teaching most securely identified with Pythagoras was the ,transmigration of souls, or metempsychosis, which holds that every soul is immortal and, upon death, enters into a new body.
Pythagoras may have devised the doctrine of musica universalis, which holds that the planets move according to mathematical equations and thus resonate to produce an inaudible symphony of music.
Pythagoras’s teachings influenced Plato, and Pythagorean ideas on mathematical perfection also impacted ancient Greek art. His philosophy had a major impact on scientists such as Nicolaus Copernicus, Johannes Kepler, and Isaac Newton, and his teachings also influenced the modern vegetarian movement.
Following Croton’s decisive victory over Sybaris in around 510 BC, Pythagoras’s followers came into conflict with supporters of democracy, and Pythagorean meeting houses were burned. Pythagoras may have been killed during this persecution, or he may have escaped to Metapontum and died there.
Pythagoras’s teachings, including the transmigration of souls and the idea of musica universalis, had a significant impact on later philosophers and scientists, such as Plato, Nicolaus Copernicus, Johannes Kepler, and Isaac Newton.
Above the cloud with its shadow is the star with its light. Above all things reverence thyself.
Greek philosopher and mathematician (c. 570 - c. 495 BC)
Do not talk a little on many subjects, but much on a few.
Greek philosopher and mathematician (c. 570 - c. 495 BC)
There is nothing so easy but that it becomes difficult when you do it reluctantly.
Greek philosopher and mathematician (c. 570 - c. 495 BC)
Above all things, reverence yourself.
Greek philosopher and mathematician (c. 570 - c. 495 BC)
In this theater of man’s life, it is reserved only for God and angels to be lookers-on.
Greek philosopher and mathematician (c. 570 - c. 495 BC)
As long as man continues to be the ruthless destroyer of lower living beings he will never know health or peace. For as long as men massacre animals, they will kill each other.
Greek philosopher and mathematician (c. 570 - c. 495 BC)
Strength of mind rests in sobriety; for this keeps your reason unclouded by passion.
Greek philosopher and mathematician (c. 570 - c. 495 BC)
Do not say a little in many words but a great deal in a few.
Greek philosopher and mathematician (c. 570 - c. 495 BC)
No one is free who has not obtained the empire of himself.
Greek philosopher and mathematician (c. 570 - c. 495 BC)
Reason is immortal, all else mortal.
Greek philosopher and mathematician (c. 570 - c. 495 BC)
Concern should drive us into action and not into a depression. No man is free who cannot control himself.
Greek philosopher and mathematician (c. 570 - c. 495 BC)
The oldest, shortest words – “yes” and “no” – are those which require the most thought.
Greek philosopher and mathematician (c. 570 - c. 495 BC)
Begin thus from the first act, and proceed; and, in conclusion, at the ill which thou hast done, be troubled, and rejoice for the good.
Greek philosopher and mathematician (c. 570 - c. 495 BC)
There is geometry in the humming of the strings, there is music in the spacing of the spheres.
Greek philosopher and mathematician (c. 570 - c. 495 BC)
Virtue is harmony.
Greek philosopher and mathematician (c. 570 - c. 495 BC)
As soon as laws are necessary for men, they are no longer fit for freedom.
Greek philosopher and mathematician (c. 570 - c. 495 BC)
There is a good principle which created order, light, and man, and an evil principle which created chaos, darkness, and woman.
Greek philosopher and mathematician (c. 570 - c. 495 BC)
Rest satisfied with doing well, and leave others to talk of you as they will.
Greek philosopher and mathematician (c. 570 - c. 495 BC)
The most momentous thing in human life is the art of winning the soul to good or evil.
Greek philosopher and mathematician (c. 570 - c. 495 BC)
A thought is an idea in transit.
Greek philosopher and mathematician (c. 570 - c. 495 BC)
Silence is better than unmeaning words.
Greek philosopher and mathematician (c. 570 - c. 495 BC)
It is better wither to be silent, or to say things of more value than silence. Sooner throw a pearl at hazard than an idle or useless word; and do not say a little in many words, but a great deal in a few.
Greek philosopher and mathematician (c. 570 - c. 495 BC)
Choose rather to be strong of soul than strong of body.
Greek philosopher and mathematician (c. 570 - c. 495 BC)
Friends are as companions on a journey, who ought to aid each other to persevere in the road to a happier life.
Greek philosopher and mathematician (c. 570 - c. 495 BC)